Joette Ilene Whims

Joette Ilene Whims

lived in San Bernardino,

California but through her

writing of books and edit-

ing, many people

throughout the USA, were

saddened to hear of her

death.

She was born in the

small town of Kenmare,

North Dakota on a crisp

November morning on the

25th in 1950. She was the

child of Alfred and Alta

Johnson. This golden

haired angel came into

this world with some in-

firmities which she would

struggle with throughout

her life. She spent many

long hours during child-

hood in the hospital

which gave her time to

develop her great writing

ability. She spent both her

elementary and high

school years attending

school in Kenmare. She

graduated with honors in

1968. She continued her

education at Oak Hills Bi-

ble Institute and Minot

University with a degree

in English and later at-

tained her masters degree

in this discipline.

She married Charles

Whims in 1970 at Faith

Baptist Church in Ken-

mare, North Dakota. The

couple was blessed with 3

children: Melody

Michelle, December 13,

1974; Gavin Scott, March

29, 1981; and Mason

Robert (Robbie), February

2, 1988.

Joette had a deep rela-

tionship and love for her

Savior, Jesus Christ. It

was seen in her life long

attitude of thankfulness in

every circumstance she

went through. She was a

member of the Immanuel

Baptist Church in High-

land, California. She

served in various minis-

tries throughout her life in

Vacation Bible School,

puppet ministry, teaching

Sunday School and

children’s church, Bible

studies, and AWANA pro-

gram. She helped in Child

Evangelism at Good News

Camp.

Joette worked as a writ-

er and editor with Bill

Bright at New Life Pub-

lishing in San Bernardino,

California and at Group

Publishing in Loveland,

Colorado. She edited

many of Bill Bright’s

books and projects. She

also worked as an English

professor at Victor Valley

Community College and

Barstow Community Col-

lege. She authored 13

books, 3 with Bill Bright,

1 on her own, and 9 with

her sister Melody. She

and her sister also wrote

weekly columns for North

Dakota newspapers and

wrote bi-monthly newspa-

pers for elementary public

schools called “California

Windows” and

“Minnesota Windows.”

Joette enjoyed her life

as a mother and grand-

mother. Her greatest joy

in her life were her 3 chil-

dren, and then later on

her 5 grandchildren. She

was known for her handi-

work. She made exquisite

quilts, knitted, crocheted,

cross-stitched, and even

tried her hand at har-

danger. She also was a

great seamstress and was

sewing Halloween cos-

tumes for her grandchil-

dre. She died unexpected-ly on Monday, August 5,

2019.

Joette is survived by:

Her husband, Charles

Whims, Her children,

Melody Heppner (Chad),

Gavin (Nicole) Whims,

and Robbie (Luwanna)

Whims; Her grandchil-

dren, Austin Whims, Co-

lin and Bristol Whims,

Madison and Ethan

Whims. Her sisters. Patti

(Ronald) Beck, Virginia

(David) Bruns, Melody

(Robert) Hunskor, and

Roxanne (Mark) Enget,

and honorary sister, Mar-

garet Zimmer; Her brother

and sister-in-laws:

Richard and Mary Ann

Whims, and David and

Darlene Whims, many

nieces, nephews, and

cousins.

Joette was preceded in

death by: her parents,

Alfred and Alta Johnson:

Her brother, Alfred Edwin

Johnson, Jr.; Her

parents-in-law; Richard

and Shirley Whims, Her

sister and brother-in-law,

Larry and Ruth Ann

Crano.

The funeral will be held

at Faith Baptist Church in

Kenmare, North Dakota

on August 31, 2019 at 11

a.m. Interment will fol-

low.